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TOOLBANK REPORT


Into the Blue Toolbank and partners launch three


new ranges for the Big Blue Book


explained the original thinking behind the project which was to look at the competition and consult end users to find out how their products were perceived and then to see if they could do better.


 Faithfull Tools’ new premium range of trowels


By PETER BRETT WE journos should sit up and take note when the UK’s largest tool wholesaler decides to add some new ranges of quality tools to its Big Blue Book – aka its catalogue.


To mark the occasion and showcase the new additions, Toolbank held a launch event in January. Simon Bicknall, Marketing Director of Toolbank began by giving us some background to the company itself and the decision making behind the inclusions.


It may have all the trappings of a vast corporate business, but Toolbank and its associate companies are still, in fact, a family owned and privately run business which has a history stretching back to 1829. It prides itself on having many long- serving and loyal employees who help implement and enact Toolbank’s motto of ‘Service, Support and Integrity’.


When it came to pointing trowels, it turns out that the standard curved edge, small pointing trowel is not really fit for purpose


Toolbank itself was established in 1972 and currently has around 30,000 products and 250 different manufacturers represented in the catalogue. It serves around 14,000 outlets in the UK both on the high street and online, and by its own estimation serves around 20 different categories of customer, from the casual DIYer to major construction companies.


14 TBH February, 2019


To man the ship, so to speak, 964 full time employees in 12 different offices throughout the country provide the many services needed to ensure, as far as possible, next-day deliveries, adequate stocking levels and all the hundreds of other functions required to run a modern, customer-facing company. Some statistics might help to give a sense of scale: over 96% of stock is available immediately from the warehouse and the stock is usually worth a cool £18m or so at any one time.


On top of all this, Toolbank also run 10 regional trade shows every year at which dealers can stock up on show deals and get help with merchandising and own brand deals.


Some elements were found to be key markers for users. For example, what trades want in a brick trowel is a bit of flex in the blade (but not too much), a one-piece forging for strength, a high lift handle and a strong end cap for tapping bricks into position. The trowel had to be made from high quality materials with features to limit the amount of mortar that inevitably sticks to it during its working life.


When it came to pointing trowels, it turns out that the standard curved edge, small pointing trowel is not really fit for purpose. Users liked the Faithfull version with its straight edges, one-piece construction and soft grip handle.


Plastering trowels are another problem entirely because plasterers can be fussy people with very individual styles and requirements depending on their technique and the difficulties of the job in hand. The Faithfull solution was to design a plastering trowel that has a 301-grade stainless steel blade with an ultra-smooth finish and a two-way curve – side to side


Faithfull Tools launch premium trowel range


Faithfull is a well-established brand on the high street with its good basic quality, well priced range of tools. Everything from spades and shovels to saws and chisels is included – over 3,800 different products in all.


So, it was with some confidence that the company embarked on what turned out to be a six-year long project to develop a premium range of trowels aimed at the trades and discerning DIYers – in other words those users who would appreciate and notice the difference in quality, but who are also looking to get the best value on the tools that they buy.


John Connick from Faithfull Tools


and top to bottom. The riveting for the tang fixing had to be almost invisible and the soft-grip handle itself shaped comfortably and smooth enough not to attract sticky plaster particles.


There were similar design features picked out for a range of 25 edging and tiling trowels with concentration on the best materials for an average price point.


www.toolbusiness.co.uk


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